If you asked me to sum up Peter Stenson's Fiend in just a few words, I'd say it's Trainspotting meets Shaun of the Dead. No doubt about it, this is one fucked up novel! If you have become blasé with the whole apocalyptic zombie angle, Fiend is definitely for you!

Here's the blurb:

When Chase Daniels first sees the little girl in umbrella socks tearing open the Rottweiler, he's not too concerned. As a longtime meth addict, he’s no stranger to horrifying, drug-fueled hallucinations.But as he and his fellow junkies soon discover, the little girl is no illusion. The end of the world really has arrived.The funny thing is, Chase’s life was over long before the apocalypse got here, his existence already reduced to a stinking basement apartment and a filthy mattress and an endless grind of buying and selling and using. He’s lied and cheated and stolen and broken his parents’ hearts a thousand times. And he threw away his only shot at sobriety a long time ago, when he chose the embrace of the drug over the woman he still loves.And if your life’s already shattered beyond any normal hopes of redemption…well, maybe the end of the world is an opportunity. Maybe it’s a last chance for Chase to hit restart and become the man he once dreamed of being. Soon he’s fighting to reconnect with his lost love and dreaming of becoming her hero among civilization’s ruins.But is salvation just another pipe dream?Propelled by a blistering first-person voice and featuring a powerfully compelling antihero, Fiend is at once a riveting portrait of addiction, a pitch-black love story, and a meditation on hope, redemption, and delusion—not to mention one hell of a zombie novel.

This is a relatively slim book, and hence the worldbuilding is almost nonexistent. Which is kind of a shame, as we never get to discover how humanity somehow turned into zombies almost overnight. À la Steven Erikson in Gardens of the Moon, Stenson throws you into the middle of the action right from the get-go. And while this is good for the rhythm of the book, it offers basically zero background on the entire premise of the story. Zombies are known as Chucklers and somehow meth addicts are immune to whatever is turning everyone into undead creatures.

The first-person narrative of Chase Daniels is what gives this novel its unique flavor. Yes, he is a hopeless addict and an all-around douchebag for the most part. And yet, you can't help but to root for him. And for all his me-myself-and-I ways, at times, whether sober or totally wasted, Chase experiences a number of unanticipated epiphanies that create truly poignant moments. Hope and the importance of family are two themes that are explored throughout the book and they generate the episodes delivering the most emotional impact. The supporting cast plays a capital role in getting this tale off the ground, and Fiend would never have been the same without Typewriter, the Albino, and KK.

Fiend is a fast-paced novel, a real page-turner. Weighing in at only 295 pages, you quickly reach the end. The plotline is pretty much simple and straightforward. In order to remain human, Chase and his friends must find a way to stay supplied with drugs, which means finding someone who can "cook" meth. But with everyone in Minnesota either dead or turned into a zombie, the road will be more arduous than even delusional drug addicts ever thought possible.

Featuring an unlikely protagonist with a very ambiguous moral compass, who just might be humanity's last hope for survival, Fiend is novel which I feel could be quite divisive, what with all the drugs and related stuff. Not the best tools in the shed on the best of days, there is no question that Chase and Typewriter are a lot of fun to follow. Peter Stenson has imbued this one with a dark and cynical sense of humor which is totally appropriate. Still, there are also dramatic moments that make you stop and think, which makes you realize that Fiend is more than just a novel about stoners battling zombies.The unexpected ending also caps everything off with an exclamation point.

In the end, Peter Stenson's debut is a fun, engaging, gritty, and entertaining novel. You just need to buckle up, not ask too many questions, and enjoy the ride!

I have a copy of Joe Abercrombie's Half a King up for grabs, courtesy of the folks at Del Rey! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

“I swore an oath to avenge the death of my father. I may be half a man, but I swore a whole oath.”Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains, and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea. And he must do it all with only one good hand.The deceived will become the deceiver.Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.The betrayed will become the betrayer.Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.Will the usurped become the usurper?But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi finds his path may end as it began—in twists, and traps, and tragedy.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "HALF." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

The MPAA has rejected the Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame to Kill For movie poster featuring femme fatale Eva Green due to "nudity — curve of under breast and dark nipple/areola circle visible through sheer gown."

Blood, weapons, violence; that's fine. A hint of a breast and then the one-sheet gets banned!?! Everything that's wrong with America in a nutshell. . . :/

For the next three days, you can download Michael J. Sullivan's Hollow World for only 0.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

THE FUTURE IS COMING...FOR SOME SOONER THAN OTHERSEllis Rogers is an ordinary man who is about to embark on an extraordinary journey. All his life he has played it safe and done the right thing, but when diagnosed with a terminal illness, he's willing to take an insane gamble. He's built a time machine in his garage, and if it works, he'll face a world that challenges his understanding of what it means to be human, what it takes to love, and the cost of paradise. Ellis could find more than a cure for his disease; he might find what everyone has been searching for since time began -- but only if he can survive the Hollow World.Welcome to the future and a new science fiction thriller from the bestselling author of the Riyria Revelations and the Riyria Chronicles. Sullivan's novels have been translated into fifteen foreign languages, and have been selected for more than ninety best of the year or most anticipated lists, including those compiled by Library Journal, Barnes & Noble.com, and Goodreads.NOTE: This ebook contains a PG-13 version for those that object to explicit language.

You can still download Joe Haldeman's classic, The Forever War, for only 4.55$ here.

Here's the blurb:

A THOUSAND YEAR CONFLICT. ONE SOLDIER LIVES THROUGH IT ALL. CAN HE MAINTAIN HIS HUMANITY?

The Forever War is a science fiction classic that chronicles the life of William Mandella. Due to the time distortion associated with deep space travel, he is present during both the first and the last battle of a thousand year old conflict with the alien Taurans.

A masterpiece of not just science fiction, The Forever War illustrates the futility of all wars and their effect on the human soul.

The Forever War won all major science fiction awards including the Hugo, Nebula and Locus. Ridley Scott, director of Blade Runner and Alien, is currently adapting this classic for film.

This is the author's preferred version and includes a foreword by John Scalzi, author of Old Man's War.

Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Bantam, I have three copies of Rogues, a new anthology edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, up for grabs! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

A thrilling collection of twenty-one original stories by an all-star list of contributors—including a new A Game of Thrones story by George R. R. Martin!If you’re a fan of fiction that is more than just black and white, this latest story collection from #1 New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin and award-winning editor Gardner Dozois is filled with subtle shades of gray. Twenty-one all-original stories, by an all-star list of contributors, will delight and astonish you in equal measure with their cunning twists and dazzling reversals. And George R. R. Martin himself offers a brand-new A Game of Thrones tale chronicling one of the biggest rogues in the entire history of Ice and Fire.Follow along with the likes of Gillian Flynn, Joe Abercrombie, Neil Gaiman, Patrick Rothfuss, Scott Lynch, Cherie Priest, Garth Nix, and Connie Willis, as well as other masters of literary sleight-of-hand, in this rogues gallery of stories that will plunder your heart—and yet leave you all the richer for it.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "ROGUES." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

You can now download Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter's The Long Earth for only 1.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

An unmissable milestone for fans of Sir Terry Pratchett: the first SF novel in over three decades in which the visionary inventor of Discworld has created a new universe of tantalizing possibilities—a series of parallel “Earths” with doorways leading to adventure, intrigue, excitement, and an escape into the furthest reaches of the imagination.The Long Earth, written with award-winning novelist Stephen Baxter, author of Stone Spring,Ark, and Floodwill, captivate science fiction fans of all stripes, readers of Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and Carl Hiaasen, and anyone who enjoyed the Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman collaborationGood Omens.The Long Earth is an adventure of the highest order—and an unforgettable read.

I have three copies of Mark Lawrence's Prince of Fools up for grabs, compliments of the folks at Ace. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe

Here's the blurb:

The Red Queen is old but the kings of the Broken Empire dread her like no other. For all her reign, she has fought the long war, contested in secret, against the powers that stand behind nations, for higher stakes than land or gold. Her greatest weapon is The Silent Sister—unseen by most and unspoken of by all.The Red Queen’s grandson, Prince Jalan Kendeth—drinker, gambler, seducer of women—is one who can see The Silent Sister. Tenth in line for the throne and content with his role as a minor royal, he pretends that the hideous crone is not there. But war is coming. Witnesses claim an undead army is on the march, and the Red Queen has called on her family to defend the realm. Jal thinks it’s all a rumor—nothing that will affect him—but he is wrong.After escaping a death trap set by the Silent Sister, Jal finds his fate magically intertwined with a fierce Norse warrior. As the two undertake a journey across the Empire to undo the spell, encountering grave dangers, willing women, and an upstart prince named Jorg Ancrath along the way, Jalan gradually catches a glimmer of the truth: he and the Norseman are but pieces in a game, part of a series of moves in the long war—and the Red Queen controls the board.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "FOOLS." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

Until midnight tonight, you can download Jeff Salyards' Scourge of the Betrayer for only 1.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

A gritty new fantasy saga begins . . .

Many tales are told of the Syldoon Empire and its fearsome soldiers, who are known throughout the world for their treachery and atrocities. Some say that the Syldoon eat virgins and babies–or perhaps their own mothers. Arkamondos, a bookish young scribe, suspects that the Syldoon’s dire reputation may have grown in the retelling, but he’s about to find out for himself.

Hired to chronicle the exploits of a band of rugged Syldoon warriors, Arki finds himself both frightened and fascinated by the men’s enigmatic leader, Captain Braylar Killcoin. A secretive, mercurial figure haunted by the memories of those he’s killed with his deadly flail, Braylar has already disposed of at least one impertinent scribe . . . and Arki might be next.

Archiving the mundane doings of millers and merchants was tedious, but at least it was safe. As Arki heads off on a mysterious mission into parts unknown, in the company of the coarse, bloody-minded Syldoon, he is promised a chance to finally record an historic adventure well worth the telling, but first he must survive the experience!

A gripping military fantasy in the tradition of Glen Cook, Scourge of the Betrayer explores the brutal politics of Empire–and the searing impact of violence and dark magic on a man’s soul.

I've been a big fan of L. E. Modesitt, jr.'s Recluce saga since The Magic of Recluce first came out in the early 90s. Haters might find it hard to believe, but as was the case with Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, it was the Darrell K. Sweet cover art that originally made me pick it up. And since then, sixteen installments later, every new Recluce novel has always managed to scratch my itch.

Once The Death of Chaos was completed, Modesitt maintained that no subsequent Recluce book would focus on future events set in that universe. Hence, every installment but The Magic of Recluce and The Death of Chaos take place at various period in the past of the Recluce timeline. This one chronicles the fate of those who survived the destruction of Cyador and further fleshes out the already rich historical past of this bestselling saga.

Here's the blurb:

Decades after the fall of Cyador, its survivors have re-established themselves in Cigoerne, a fertile country coveted by hostile neighbors in less hospitable lands. Young Lerial, the second son of Duke Kiedron, lives in the shadow of his older brother Lephi, the heir to their father's realm. Lerial's future seems preordained: He will one day command his brother's forces in defence of Cigoerne, serving at his older sibling's pleasure, and no more.But when Lerial is sent abroad to be fostered by Major Altyrn to learn the skills and wisdom he will need to fulfil his future duties, he begins a journey into a much larger world that brings out his true potential. Lerial has talents that few, as yet, suspect: He is one of those rare beings who can harness both Order and Chaos, the competing natural forces that shape the world and define the magic that exists within it. And as war finally engulfs the fringes of Cigoerne, Lerial's growing mastery of Order and Chaos is tested to its limits, and his own.

The worldbuilding is always one of the most interesting aspects of these new Recluce books, for it allows readers to discover how people and events shaped history during their lifetime. In the last Recluce volume, Arms-Commander, Saryn's involvement in protecting the regency culminated in drastic changes throughout Lornth, shaping that country into what it would become in later years. And much like Nylan changed the face of Candar when he faced the might of Cyador, Saryn's coming down from Tower Black and the Roof of the World echoed down the centuries. The same can be said of young and inexperienced Lerial, who is forced to grow up before his time and whose actions as he attempts to save Cigoerne will change Hamor forever. I enjoyed how Modesitt filled in many of the blanks and elaborated on how the Empress brought the surviving Mirror Lancers, the Magi'i, and other survivors into the last fireship and fled Cyador to establish themselves in what would one eventually become Cigoerne.

As is usually his wont, the author continues to explore the relationship between Order and Chaos, one of the trademarks of this series. Being able to manipulate both Order and Chaos forces Lerial to test the limits of what he can do, often with unanticipated results. I'm already looking forward to the sequel, Heritage of Cyador, coming out later this fall, which will continue Lerial's tale.

The characterization is much better in Cyador's Heirs than it was in the previous Recluce novel. In Arms-Commander, I felt that Saryn, though she was a three-dimensional protagonist, was a bit too aloof to carry the weight of the entire story on her shoulders. On the other hand, Lerial, a teenager with an inquisitive mind, is a much more sympathetic character. We learn more about Order and Chaos as Lerial experiments, hoping that he can discover ways to help his father's forces overcome its enemies before it's too late. Majer Altyrn, even though he's not a POV protagonist, plays a large role in Lerial's character growth as the tale progresses and his knowledge of Cyador's past adds a few layers to the story.

Modesitt's novels are never fast-paced affairs and Cyador's Heirs is no exception. As was the case in most Recluce installments, the author needs time to establish the various plotlines. And then, you follow the main character as he or she must learn, experiment, and puzzle out ways to escape a number of predicaments before the finale. In that respect, Cyador's Heirs follows Modesitt's Recluce recipe like its predecessors and long-time fans end up with a satisfying read yet again. As the 17th volume in the Recluce saga, readers have come to know what to expect and Cyador's Heirs will undoubtedly please Modesitt fans, regardless of the fact that the rhythm can sometimes be an issue.

Feminism and the emancipation of women continue to be two important Recluce themes, although they are not as predominant as they were in Arms-Commander.

All in all, Cyador's Heirs is another solid effort by L. E. Modesitt, jr. Intelligent, thoughtful, and entertaining without any bells and whistles, this is adult fantasy by an author in perfect control of his craft and his universe.

The folks at Westeros just posted a new extract from the forthcoming The World of Ice and Fire. This one is devoted to the events leading to the arrival of the Rhoynar in Westeros, beginning with the relationship—and eventual conflict—between the people of the Rhoyne and the Valyrians.

You can now download the Complete Collection Of H.P.Lovecraft - 150 eBooks With 100+ Audio Book Links (Complete Collection Of Lovecraft's Fiction, Juvenilia, Poems, Essays And Collaborations) for only 0.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

All the errors in the Audio Books have been fixed........

(Complete Collection Of Lovecraft's Fiction,Juvenilia,Poems,Essays And Collaborations) Orintage Publishing is proud to bring the complete works of Various Authors to the Kindle,iTunes,Nook And Kobo. As always, we strive to put out great books with beautiful formatting and easy navigation. You will find a linked Table of Contents at the beginning of this ebook and it can also be accessed through the MENU or GO TO button.We always try to put our innovation and technology in our books. Whats Inside ..............? The Complete Fiction The Nameless City The Festival The Colour Out of Space The Call of Cthulhu The Dunwich Horror The Whisperer in Darkness The Dreams in the Witch House The Haunter of the Dark The Shadow Over Innsmouth Discarded Draft of "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" The Shadow Out of Time At the Mountains of Madness The Case of Charles Dexter Ward Azathoth Beyond the Wall of Sleep Celephaïs Cool Air Dagon Ex Oblivione Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family From Beyond He Herbert West-Reanimator Hypnos In the Vault Memory Nyarlathotep Pickman’s Model The Book The Cats of Ulthar The Descendant The Doom That Came to Sarnath The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath The Evil Clergyman The Horror at Red Hook The Hound The Lurking Fear The Moon-Bog The Music of Erich Zann The Other Gods The Outsider The Picture in the House The Quest of Iranon The Rats in the Walls The Shunned House The Silver Key The Statement of Randolph Carter The Strange High House in the Mist The Street The Temple The Terrible Old Man The Thing on the Doorstep The Tomb The Transition of Juan Romero The Tree The Unnamable The White Ship What the Moon Brings Polaris The Very Old Folk Ibid Old Bugs Sweet Ermengarde, or, The Heart of a Country Girl A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson The History of the Necronomicon The Complete Juvenilia The Alchemist The Beast in the Cave The Little Glass Bottle The Mysterious Ship The Mystery of the Grave-Yard The Secret Cave The Complete Poetry Part I. - Juvenilia (1887-1905) Poemata Minora, Volume II Part II. - Fantasy and Horror Nemesis Astrophobos The Poe-et’s Nightmare Despair Revelation The House The City To Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Eighteenth Baron Dunsany The Nightmare Lake On Reading Lord Dunsany’s Book of Wonder The Cats Festival Hallowe’en in a Suburb aka “In a Suburb” The Wood The Outpost The Ancient Track The Messenger Nathicana Fungi from Yuggoth In a Sequester’d Providence Churchyard Where Once Poe Walk’d To Clark Ashton Smith, Esq., upon His Phantastick Tales, Verses, Pictures, and Sculptures Part III. - Occasional Verse On Receiving a Picture of Swans Fact and Fancy Laeta; a Lament Part IV. - Satire Unda; or, The Bride of the Sea Pacifist War Song—1917 Waste Paper Dead Passion’s Flame Arcadia Life’s Mystery Part V. - Seasonal and Topographical A Garden Sunset Providence Christmas Christmas Greetings Part VI. - Politics and Society An American to Mother England Lines on Gen. Robert Edward Lee The Rose of England The Peace Advocate Ode for July Fourth, 1917 The Conscript The Complete Essays The Allowable Rhyme At the Root Cats and Dogs The Despised Pastoral Metrical Regularity Notes on Writing Weird Fiction Supernatural Horror in Literature The Complete Collaborations Medusa’s Coil. Poetry and the Gods. The Crawling Chaos. The Horror at Martin’s Beach. Through the Gates of the Silver Key. The Curse of Yig. The Disinterment. The Green Meadow. The Horror in the Museum. In the Walls of Eryx. Out of the Aeons. The Mound. The Electric Executioner. The Horror in the Burying-Ground. The Night Ocean. The Trap. Two Black Bottles. Winged Death. The battle that ended the century. The Challenge from Beyo

A quarter of a million people die in the destruction of the moon Cresta. The League civil war is accelerating out of control, but projections indicate that as their technologically induced sociological dysfunction continues, all of humanity may face a similar fate. In the aftermath of Cresta’s destruction, Sandy Kresnov discovers the alien Talee operative Cai in Tanusha, there to learn just how far the technologically-induced insanity has gone. The Talee have seen this before, and they are terrified of anything threatening a recurrence.Meanwhile, Sandy’s old nemesis Renaldo Takewashi, the self-proclaimed “father” of synthetic intelligence, comes to the Federation seeking asylum. Talewashi may even have a cure—previously unknown Talee technology implanted into a human child subject—Sandy’s little boy, Kiril. But it is exactly this technology that the Talee fear, and they will exterminate anyone caught using it.Now, Sandy must fight to save her family from a terrible new threat, but doing so may plunge humanity into another destructive war between humans, or worse, against the massively-advanced Talee. And what final secret are the Talee protecting about the origins of synthetic humans like Sandy that could either liberate Sandy’s fellow synthetics from bondage or spell disaster for all humanity?

Bestselling author Jim Butcher just posted a new extract from his forthcoming Skin Game on his website. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, is about to have a very bad day…Because as Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness, Harry never knows what the scheming Mab might want him to do. Usually, it’s something awful.He doesn’t know the half of it…Mab has just traded Harry’s skills to pay off one of her debts. And now he must help a group of supernatural villains—led by one of Harry’s most dreaded and despised enemies, Nicodemus Archleone—to break into the highest-security vault in town so that they can then access the highest-security vault in the Nevernever.It’s a smash-and-grab job to recover the literal Holy Grail from the vaults of the greatest treasure horde in the supernatural world—which belongs to the one and only Hades, Lord of the freaking Underworld and generally unpleasant character. Worse, Dresden suspects that there is another game afoot that no one is talking about. And he’s dead certain that Nicodemus has no intention of allowing any of his crew to survive the experience. Especially Harry.Dresden’s always been tricky, but he’s going to have to up his backstabbing game to survive this mess—assuming his own allies don’t end up killing him before his enemies get the chance…

John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-and aliens willing to fight for them are common. The universe, it turns out, is a hostile place.So: we fight. To defend Earth (a target for our new enemies, should we let them get close enough) and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has gone on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force, which shields the home planet from too much knowledge of the situation. What's known to everybody is that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve your time at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine-and what he will become is far stranger.At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.

The folks at Harper Voyager UK have just posted an extract from Mark Lawrence's Prince of Fools. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe

Here's the blurb:

The Red Queen is old but the kings of the Broken Empire dread her like no other. For all her reign, she has fought the long war, contested in secret, against the powers that stand behind nations, for higher stakes than land or gold. Her greatest weapon is The Silent Sister—unseen by most and unspoken of by all.The Red Queen’s grandson, Prince Jalan Kendeth—drinker, gambler, seducer of women—is one who can see The Silent Sister. Tenth in line for the throne and content with his role as a minor royal, he pretends that the hideous crone is not there. But war is coming. Witnesses claim an undead army is on the march, and the Red Queen has called on her family to defend the realm. Jal thinks it’s all a rumor—nothing that will affect him—but he is wrong.After escaping a death trap set by the Silent Sister, Jal finds his fate magically intertwined with a fierce Norse warrior. As the two undertake a journey across the Empire to undo the spell, encountering grave dangers, willing women, and an upstart prince named Jorg Ancrath along the way, Jalan gradually catches a glimmer of the truth: he and the Norseman are but pieces in a game, part of a series of moves in the long war—and the Red Queen controls the board.

Before midnight tonight, you can get your hands on the first 7 volumes of Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files for only 1.99$ each here!

Here's the blurb for the first book, Storm Front:

For Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name.

When it was announced that Joe Abercrombie was working on a new fantasy series, I was overjoyed! Abercrombie has become one of my favorite SFF authors and I'm always looking forward to what he'll publish next. And yet, when I learned that this would be a YA novel, I was a bit worried. After all, Abercrombie has established himself as one of grimdark's biggest draws and I was afraid that switching gears to appeal to a different market could well take away most of what made his books so enjoyable.

Interestingly enough, Half a King is marketed differently on both sides of the pond. In the UK, Abercrombie's newest is published as a YA offering, while in the USA Del Rey is marketing this one as they would any other speculative fiction work. The Advance Reading Copy I was forwarded contains absolutely no mention that Half a King is even aimed at a younger audience. When the author himself elaborated on this a few months back, it helped set my mind at ease. Then the early reviews pretty much raved about the novel, so I decided to give it a shot. And I wasn't disappointed!

Here's the blurb:

“I swore an oath to avenge the death of my father. I may be half a man, but I swore a whole oath.”Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains, and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea. And he must do it all with only one good hand.The deceived will become the deceiver.Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.The betrayed will become the betrayer.Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.Will the usurped become the usurper?But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi finds his path may end as it began—in twists, and traps, and tragedy.

Compared to Abercrombie's latest works, Half a King is a rather slim volume. Weighing in at only 273 pages (the American ARC, in any event), this probably amounts to less than half the wordcount we usually get. Which, in turn, means that although there is a much tighter focus on the narrative, there is not much in the way of worldbuilding. As is habitually the author's wont, Half a King features no map. Hence, it is quite difficult to visualize the various kingdoms of the Shattered Sea and what little worldbuilding there is does very little to flesh out the land, its people, their customs, religions, etc. So a bit more content regarding this aspect of the story would have made for an even better reading experience, methinks.

The tighter focus I have alluded to makes for a rhythm that moves the tale forward at a decidedly brisk pace. With a relatively low wordcount to work with, there is no room for info-dumps and unnecessary scenes. As a result, Yarvi's story is told in a more concise fashion than what Joe Abercrombie has accustomed us to thus far in his career. Half a King is a page turner, one that you will likely finish in just a few sittings.

The characterization was fantastic. Abercrombie did a great job introducing Yarvi and making him a three-dimensional protagonist that you can easily root for. The author also came up with an entertaining bunch of secondary characters that make up the supporting cast. The enigmatic Nothing, Sumael, Rulf, Ankran, Jaud, and the colorful Shadikshirram and the relationships between them add a lot of layers to the plotlines.

Although there are no major changes in terms of style and tone, and the majority of Abercrombie fans out there will go through this book in no time, it is different to some extent. The wit, cynicism, and dark humor that characterize the author's backlist are all present, if a little subdued. There is a lot less swearing, however, and no sex at all. The violence is not as graphic as usual, with less blood and gore. Hence, Half a King remains a Joe Abercrombie novel, but it is a more self-restrained Joe Abercrombie, one that pulls some of his punches and doesn't go all out the way he did in A Red Country and The Heroes. And hence, Half a King, though it is an enjoyable read, doesn't satisfy the way the last few Abercrombie titles did.

The author pulls a number of unexpected surprises out of his hat, capping Half a King with a nice ending that I never saw coming. The motivations of the villains are at times a little weak and things are a bit vague from time to time as to why everything was set in motion and how Yarvi found himself in such dire straits. A bit more focus on worldbuilding and a chapter or two exploring the villains motivations wouldn't have gone amiss and would have given more depth to the overall story arc.

In the end, even though it may not be Joe Abercrombie doing what he does best, Half a King remains a brutal, engaging, entertaining, and satisfying fantasy novel featuring an interesting band of misfits. Looking forward to finding out what happens next in the upcoming sequel scheduled to be released in 2015!

Don't know for how long, but you can now download Robin Hobb's awesome Assassin's Apprentice for only 0.99$ here!

Here's the blurb:

Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill—and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family.As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.

Thanks to the cool folks at Bantam, here's an extract from Rogues, a new anthology edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois. I was lucky enough to get a teaser from Patrick Rothfuss' "The Lightning Tree" for you guys! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

A thrilling collection of twenty-one original stories by an all-star list of contributors—including a new A Game of Thrones story by George R. R. Martin!If you’re a fan of fiction that is more than just black and white, this latest story collection from #1 New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin and award-winning editor Gardner Dozois is filled with subtle shades of gray. Twenty-one all-original stories, by an all-star list of contributors, will delight and astonish you in equal measure with their cunning twists and dazzling reversals. And George R. R. Martin himself offers a brand-new A Game of Thrones tale chronicling one of the biggest rogues in the entire history of Ice and Fire.Follow along with the likes of Gillian Flynn, Joe Abercrombie, Neil Gaiman, Patrick Rothfuss, Scott Lynch, Cherie Priest, Garth Nix, and Connie Willis, as well as other masters of literary sleight-of-hand, in this rogues gallery of stories that will plunder your heart—and yet leave you all the richer for it.

Enjoy!
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Morning: The Narrow Road

Bast almost made it out the back door of the Waystone inn.

He actually had made it outside, both feet were over the threshold and the door was almost entirely eased shut behind him before he heard his master's voice.

Bast paused, hand on the latch. He frowned at the door, hardly a handspan from being closed. He hadn't made any noise. He knew it. He was familiar with all the silent pieces of the inn, which floorboards sighed beneath a foot, which windows stuck...

The back door's hinges creaked sometimes, depending on their mood, but that was easy to work around. Bast shifted his grip on the latch, lifted up so that the door's weight didn't hang so heavy, then eased it slowly closed. No creak. The swinging door was softer than a sigh.

Bast stood upright and grinned. His face was sweet and sly and wild. He looked like a naughty child who had managed to steal the moon and eat it. His smile was like the last sliver of remaining moon, sharp and white and dangerous.

"Bast!" The call came again, louder this time. Nothing so crass as a shout, his master would never stoop to bellowing. But when he wanted to be heard, his baritone would not be stopped by anything so insubstantial as an oaken door. His voice carried like a horn, and Bast felt his name tug at him like a hand around his heart.

Bast sighed, then opened the door lightly and strode back inside. He was dark, and tall, and lovely. When he walked he looked like he was dancing. "Yes, Reshi?" he called.

After a moment the innkeeper stepped into the kitchen, he wore a clean white apron and his hair was red. Other than that, he was painfully unremarkable. His face held the doughy placidness of bored innkeepers everywhere. Despite the early hour, he looked tired.

He handed Bast a leather book. "You almost forgot this," he said without a hint of sarcasm.

Bast took the book and made a show of looking surprised. "Oh! Thank you, Reshi!"

The innkeeper shrugged and his mouth made the shape of a smile. "No bother, Bast. While you're out on your errands, would you mind picking up some eggs?"

Bast nodded, tucking the book under his arm. "Anything else?" he asked dutifully.

"Maybe some carrots too. I'm thinking we'll do stew tonight. It's Felling, so we'll need to be ready for a crowd." His mouth turned up slightly at one corner as he said this.

The innkeeper started to turn away, then stopped. "Oh. The Williams boy stopped by last night, looking for you. Didn't leave any sort of message." He raised an eyebrow at Bast. The look said more than it said.

"I haven't the slightest idea what he wants," Bast said.

The innkeeper made a noncommittal noise and turned back toward the common room.

Before he'd taken three steps Bast was already out the door and running through the early-morning sunlight.

* * *

By the time Bast arrived, there were already two children waiting. They played on the huge greystone that lay half-fallen at the bottom of the hill, climbing up the tilting side of it, then jumping down into the tall grass.

Knowing they were watching, Bast took his time climbing the tiny hill. At the top stood what the children called the lightning tree, though these days it was little more than a branchless trunk barely taller than a man. All the bark had long since fallen away, and the sun had bleached the wood as white as bone. All except the very top, where even after all these years the wood was charred a jagged black.

Bast touched the trunk with his fingertips and made a slow circuit of the tree. He went deasil, the same direction as the turning sun. The proper way for making. Then he turned and switched hands, making three slow circles widdershins. That turning was against the world. It was the way of breaking. Back and forth he went, as if the tree were a bobbin and he was winding and unwinding.

Finally he sat with his back against the tree and set the book on a nearby stone. The sun shone on the gold gilt letters, Celum Tinture. Then he amused himself by tossing stones into the nearby stream that cut into the low slope of the hill opposite the greystone.

After a minute, a round little blonde boy trudged up the hill. He was the baker's youngest son, Brann. He smelled of sweat and fresh bread and ... something else. Something out of place.

The boy's slow approach had an air of ritual about it. He crested the small hill and stood there for a moment quietly, the only noise coming from the other two children playing below.

Finally Bast turned to look the boy over. He was no more than eight or nine, well-dressed, and plumper than most of the other town's children. He carried a wad of white cloth in his hand.

The boy swallowed nervously. "I need a lie."

Bast nodded. "What sort of lie?"

The boy gingerly opened his hand, revealing the wad of cloth to be a makeshift bandage, spattered with bright red. It stuck to his hand slightly. Bast nodded; that was what he'd smelled before.

"I was playing with my mum's knives," Brann said.

Bast examined the cut. It ran shallow along the meat near the thumb. Nothing serious. "Hurt much?"

"Nothing like the birching I'll get if she finds out I was messing with her knives."

Bast nodded sympathetically. "You clean the knife and put it back?"

Brann nodded.

Bast tapped his lips thoughtfully. "You thought you saw a big black rat. It scared you. You threw a knife at it and cut yourself. Yesterday one of the other children told you a story about rats chewing off soldier's ears and toes while they slept. It gave you nightmares."

Brann gave a shudder. "Who told me the story?"

Bast shrugged. "Pick someone you don't like."

The boy grinned viciously.

Bast began to tick off things on his fingers. "Get some blood on the knife before you throw it." He pointed at the cloth the boy had wrapped his hand in. "Get rid of that, too. The blood is dry, obviously old. Can you work up a good cry?"

The boy shook his head, seeming a little embarrassed by the fact.

"Put some salt in your eyes. Get all snotty and teary before you run to them. Howl and blubber. Then when they're asking you about your hand, tell your mum you're sorry if you broke her knife."

Brann listened, nodding slowly at first, then faster. He smiled. "That's good." He looked around nervously. "What do I owe you?"

"Any secrets?" Bast asked.

The baker's boy thought for a minute. "Old Lant's tupping the Widow Creel..." he said hopefully.

Bast waved his hand. "For years. Everyone knows." Bast rubbed his nose, then said, "Can you bring me two sweet buns later today?"

Brann nodded.

"That's a good start," Bast said. "What have you got in your pockets?"

The boy dug around and held up both his hands. He had two iron shims, a flat greenish stone, a bird skull, a tangle of string, and a bit of chalk.

Bast claimed the string. Then, careful not to touch the shims, he took the greenish stone between two fingers and arched an eyebrow at the boy.

After a moment's hesitation, the boy nodded.

Bast put the stone in his pocket.

"What if I get a birching anyway?" Brann asked.

Bast shrugged. "That's your business. You wanted a lie. I gave you a good one. If you want me to get you out of trouble, that's something else entirely."

The baker's boy looked disappointed, but he nodded and headed down the hill.

Next up the hill was a slightly older boy in tattered homespun. One of the Alard boys, Kale. He had a split lip and a crust of blood around one nostril. He was as furious as only a boy of ten can be. His expression was a thunderstorm.

"I caught my brother kissing Gretta behind the old mill!" he said as soon as he crested the hill, not waiting for Bast to ask. "He knew I was sweet on her!"

Bast spread his hands helplessly, shrugging.

"Revenge," the boy spat.

"Public revenge?" Bast asked. "Or secret revenge?"

The boy touched his split lip with his tongue. "Secret revenge," he said in a low voice.

"How much revenge?" Bast asked.

The boy thought for a bit, then held up his hands about two feet apart. "This much."

"Hmmmm," Bast said. "How much on a scale from mouse to bull?

The boy rubbed his nose for a while. "About a cat's worth," he said. "Maybe a dog's worth. Not like Crazy Martin's dog though. Like the Bentons' dogs."

Bast nodded and tilted his head back in a thoughtful way. "Okay," he said. "Piss in his shoes."

Bast shook his head. "You piss in a cup and hide it. Let it sit for a day or two. Then one night when he's put his shoes by the fire, pour the piss on his shoes. Don't make a puddle, just get them damp. In the morning they'll be dry and probably won't even smell too much..."

"What's the point?" the boy interrupted angrily. "That's not a flea's worth of revenge!"

Bast held up a pacifying hand. "When his feet get sweaty, he'll start to smell like piss." Bast said calmly. "If he steps in a puddle, he'll smell like piss. When he walks in the snow, he'll smell like piss. It will be hard for him to figure out exactly where it's coming from, but everyone will know your brother is the one that reeks." Bast grinned at the boy. "I'm guessing your Gretta isn't going to want to kiss the boy who can't stop pissing himself."

Raw admiration spread across the young boy's face like sunrise in the mountains. "That's the most bastardy thing I've ever heard," he said, awestruck.

Bast tried to look modest and failed. "Have you got anything for me?"

"I found a wild bee hive," the boy said.

"That will do for a start," Bast said. "Where?"

"It's off past the Orissons'. Past Littlecreek." The boy squatted down and drew a map in the dirt. "You see?"

Bast nodded. "Anything else?"

"Well... I know where Crazy Martin keeps his still...."

Bast raised his eyebrows at that, "Really?"

The boy drew another map and gave some directions. Then he stood and dusted off his knees. "We square?"

Bast scuffed his foot in the dirt, destroying the map. "We're square."

The boy dusted off his knees, "I've got a message too. Rike wants to see you."

Bast shook his head firmly. "He knows the rules. Tell him no."

"I already told him," the boy said with a comically exaggerated shrug. "But I'll tell him again if I see him...."

* * *

There were no more children waiting after Kale, so Bast tucked the leather book under his arm and went on a long, rambling stroll. He found some wild raspberries and ate them. He took a drink from the Ostlar's well.

Eventually Bast climbed to the top of a nearby bluff where he gave a great stretch before tucking the leather-bound copy of Celum Tinture into a spreading hawthorn tree where a wide branch made a cozy nook against the trunk.

He looked up at the sky then, clear and bright. No clouds. Not much wind. Warm but not hot. Hadn't rained for a solid span. It wasn't a market day. Hours before noon on Felling...

Bast's brow furrowed a bit, as if performing some complex calculation. Then he nodded to himself.

Then Bast headed back down the bluff, past Old Lant's place and around the brambles that bordered the Alard farm. When he came to Littlecreek he cut some reeds and idly whittled at them with a small bright knife. Then brought the string out of his pocket and bound them together, fashioning a tidy set of shepherd's pipes.

He blew across the top of them and cocked his head to listen to their sweet discord. His bright knife trimmed some more, and he blew again. This time the tune was closer, which made the discord far more grating.

Bast's knife flicked again, once, twice, thrice. Then he put it away and brought the pipes closer to his face. He breathed in through his nose, smelling the wet green of them. Then he licked the fresh-cut tops of the reeds, the flicker of his tongue a sudden, startling red.

Then he drew a breath and blew against the pipes. This time the sound was bright as moonlight, lively as a leaping fish, sweet as stolen fruit. Smiling, Bast headed off into the Bentons' back hills, and it wasn't long before he heard the low, mindless bleat of distant sheep.

A minute later, Bast came over the crest of a hill and saw two dozen fat, daft sheep cropping grass in the green valley below. It was shadowy here, and secluded. The lack of recent rain meant the grazing was better here. The steep sides of the valley meant the sheep weren't prone to straying and didn't need much looking after.

A young woman sat in the shade of a spreading elm that overlooked the valley. She had taken off her shoes and bonnet. Her long, thick hair was the color of ripe wheat.
Bast began playing then. A dangerous tune. It was sweet and bright and slow and sly.

The shepherdess perked up at the sound of it, or so it seemed at first. She lifted her head, excited.... but no. She didn't look in his direction at all. She was merely climbing to her feet to have stretch, rising high up onto her toes, hands twining over her head.

Still apparently unaware she was being serenaded, the young woman picked up a nearby blanket and spread it beneath the tree, and sat back down. It was a little odd, as she'd been sitting there before without the blanket. Perhaps she'd just grown chilly.
Bast continued to play as he walked down the slope of the valley toward her. He did not hurry, and the music he made was sweet and playful and languorous all at once.

The shepherdess showed no sign of noticing the music or Bast himself. In fact she looked away from him, toward the far end of the little valley, as if curious what the sheep might be doing there. When she turned her head, it exposed the lovely line of her neck from her perfect shell-like ear, down to the gentle swell of breast that showed above her bodice.

Eyes intent on the young woman, Bast stepped on a loose stone and stumbled awkwardly down the hill. He blew one hard, squawking note, then dropped a few more from his song as he threw out one arm wildly to catch his balance.

The shepherdess laughed then, but she was pointedly looking at the other end of the valley. Perhaps the sheep had done something humorous. Yes. That was surely it. They could be funny animals at times.

Even so, one can only look at sheep for so long. She sighed and relaxed, leaning back against the sloping trunk of the tree. The motion accidentally pulled the hem of her skirt up slightly past her knee. Her calves were round and tan and covered with the lightest down of honey-colored hair.

Bast continued down the hill. His steps delicate and graceful. He looked like a stalking cat. He looked like he were dancing.

Apparently satisfied the sheep were safe, the shepherdess sighed again, closed her eyes, and lay her head against the trunk of the tree. Her face tilted up to catch the sun. She seemed about to sleep, but for all her sighing her breath seemed to be coming rather quickly. And when she shifted restlessly to make herself more comfortable, one hand fell in such a way that it accidentally drew the hem of her dress even further up until it showed a pale expanse of thigh.

It is hard to grin while playing shepherd's pipes. Somehow Bast managed it.